Renovations Of Geelong's Simonds Stadium Revealed Ahead Of AFL Match

May 19, 2017

The "latest jewel in Geelong's sporting crown" was unveiled on Thursday, with "Geelong’s patron claiming it will help attract" the Big Bash League, A-League and Australian Football League Women's to the city, according to Harrison Tippet of the GEELONG ADVERTISER. After two-and-a-half years, "the curtain has been raised" on the fourth stage of Simonds Stadium's A$91M ($67.5M) redevelopment. The 4,700-square-foot football department and training area includes the city's biggest gym and cardio area -- three times bigger than the club's current gym -- as well as a bigger player welfare and development center, new locker room and auditorium. Philanthropist and former AFL side Geelong President Frank Costa said that the stadium "would benefit all of Geelong." He said, "Between Big Bash cricket, soccer, football -- including the ladies -- you'll have a lot of usage of the stadium, which will be great for the economy of Geelong" (GEELONG ADVERTISER, 5/18).